Southern Illinoise University Athletics
SIU at Murray State: Notes & Links
04/05/2016 | 12:00:00 | Softball
April 5, 2016
Facing one of the toughest pitchers in the Missouri Valley Conference, Sydney Jones, Kelsey Gonzalez and Caylee Cook all stood out over the weekend at Drake. The Bulldogs threw 15.1 innings of 2015 MVC Freshman of the Year Nicole Newman, but SIU's trio of Cook, Jones and Gonzalez went 9-for-24 (.375) and drew seven more free passes to put the trio's on-base percentage at .516. Jones had half of SIU's RBIs on the weekend, while Cook finished the weekend with a .600 on-base percentage after several impessive at-bats. Gonzalez raised her season average to .315, which is second on the team.
HARRE A DOMINANT FORCE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ORDER
Junior star Shaye Harre has drawn two intentional walks this year, and for good reason: She is hitting .376 with eight doubles, nine home runs, 30 RBIs, a .788 slugging percentage and a .495 on-base percentage. All of those marks lead the team, and she ranks in the top-10 of the MVC in batting average, slugging percentage, on-base percentage, runs scored, RBIs, home runs, total bases, and walks drawn. Her nine home runs are tied for the MVC lead.
B. JONES ONE OF TOP YOUNG PITCHERS
Brianna Jones, a freshman, is one of the top young pitcher in the nation. Her eight shutouts this year rank third nationally, and her 15 wins already this year are 12th nationally. Her shutouts lead all freshmen nationally, and her 15 wins rank second among freshman nationally. Her 1.61 ERA ranks 36th nationally and eighth among all freshmen.
DOVER ON A ROLL
While Brianna Jones pitched a shutout on opening day, Dover then struck out 10 in her first start of the season later that day against Nicholls State. Dover has staye hot ever since, allowing just 12 extra-base hits in 76 innings while striking out 68. She has allowed only seven runs over her last six starts, which includes a shutout over conference foe Loyola.
| SIU (20-11) at Murray State (14-18) | |
| Date and Time | April 7, 2016 | 3:30 p.m. CT |
| Location | Murray, Ky. | Racer Field | Weather |
| Follow Along | Live Stats |
| 2016 Stats | Southern Illinois | Murray State | MVC | OVC |
| Social Media | @SIU_Softball  | @SIU_Softball  | Saluki Softball  |
FAST FIVE
- SIU and Murray State are facing off for the first of two meetings this year. SIU travels to Murray on Thursday, and the Racers will come to Carbondale on April 13.
- Southern Illinois is 2-0 in mid-week games this year. SIU beat Saint Louis 14-2 and SEMO 3-2, but Southern hasn't played a mid-week in two weeks after last week's at SIUE was canceled.
- SIU suffered its first three-game losing streak of the season after getting swept by Drake over the weekend. Southern entered that series on an eight-game winning streak.
- Kelsey Gonzalez and Sydney Jones both had three-hit days in the series finale at Drake.
- The Salukis rank 23rd in the nation in fielding percentage. SIU has ranked in the top-25 nationally in fielding percentage all season long.
FOR STARTERS
Saluki Softball's Wednesday game with UT Martin was canceled to to weather, and SIU picked up a Thursday game at Murray State. SIU and Murray will play at 3:30 p.m. at Racer Field. The teams will play again on April 13 at Charlotte West Stadium. Southern is 2-0 in mid-week games this year, having beaten Saint Louis and Southeast Missouri. The game is the middle game in a seven-game road swing for SIU, the longest stretch of true road games this season for the Dawgs. SIU went to Drake this past weekend and heads to Springfield, Mo., for a three-game series at Missouri State this upcoming weekend.
Southern Illinois...
- is 20-11 overall. Despite a three-game losing streak, Southern has won 12 of its last 16 games.
- pitched 11 shutouts this season. SIU already has the most shutouts since 2011 (13), and all three pitchers have already thrown at least one shutout.
- has only allowed only seven home runs in 199.2 innings pitched. SIU allowed 53 home runs last year (about one every six innings).
- has lowered its team ERA more than 2.2 runs from last season.
- is out-homering opponents 28-7 this season. SIU has 75 extra-base hits, compared to just 35 for opponents.
- went 10-5 at Charlotte West Stadium in 2015, the 34th consecutive season SIU had a winning record at home. Southern is 8-2 so far in 2016.
- hosts the 2016 MVC Championships at Charlotte West Stadium.
- is 197-71 (.735) at home in its 14th seasons at Charlotte West Stadium.
Facing one of the toughest pitchers in the Missouri Valley Conference, Sydney Jones, Kelsey Gonzalez and Caylee Cook all stood out over the weekend at Drake. The Bulldogs threw 15.1 innings of 2015 MVC Freshman of the Year Nicole Newman, but SIU's trio of Cook, Jones and Gonzalez went 9-for-24 (.375) and drew seven more free passes to put the trio's on-base percentage at .516. Jones had half of SIU's RBIs on the weekend, while Cook finished the weekend with a .600 on-base percentage after several impessive at-bats. Gonzalez raised her season average to .315, which is second on the team.
HARRE A DOMINANT FORCE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ORDER
Junior star Shaye Harre has drawn two intentional walks this year, and for good reason: She is hitting .376 with eight doubles, nine home runs, 30 RBIs, a .788 slugging percentage and a .495 on-base percentage. All of those marks lead the team, and she ranks in the top-10 of the MVC in batting average, slugging percentage, on-base percentage, runs scored, RBIs, home runs, total bases, and walks drawn. Her nine home runs are tied for the MVC lead.
B. JONES ONE OF TOP YOUNG PITCHERS
Brianna Jones, a freshman, is one of the top young pitcher in the nation. Her eight shutouts this year rank third nationally, and her 15 wins already this year are 12th nationally. Her shutouts lead all freshmen nationally, and her 15 wins rank second among freshman nationally. Her 1.61 ERA ranks 36th nationally and eighth among all freshmen.
DOVER ON A ROLL
While Brianna Jones pitched a shutout on opening day, Dover then struck out 10 in her first start of the season later that day against Nicholls State. Dover has staye hot ever since, allowing just 12 extra-base hits in 76 innings while striking out 68. She has allowed only seven runs over her last six starts, which includes a shutout over conference foe Loyola.
Players Mentioned
Utility
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